Xenon (pinball)
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 | |
| Manufacturer | Bally Manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Release date | November 1980 |
| System | Bally AS-2518-35 |
| Model # | 1196-E |
| Players | 4 |
| Design | Greg Kmiec |
| Artwork | Paul Faris |
| Music | Suzanne Ciani |
| Sound | Suzanne Ciani |
| Voices | Suzanne Ciani |
| Production run | 11,000 |
Xenon is a 1980 pinball machine designed by Greg Kmiec and released by Bally. The game was not only the first talking pinball table by Bally, but also the first with a female voice.[1]
The voice for the female robot theme[2] was provided by Suzanne Ciani who also composed the music of the game.[1] The seductive voice is for example saying "Try Xeeeeenon" in attraction mode[3] or responds to bumper hits with some "Oooh" and "Aaah" moaning sound effects.[2]
Xenon consists of dominant blue artwork e.g. blue bumper caps, plastic posts and bluish light that gives the game a futuristic xenon theme.[4] A red post is used as a signature design element by Greg Kmiec.[5]
The tube shot is the most prominent playfield feature and transports the ball from the upper-right side of the playfield to the middle-left side of the playfield. It consists of a clear acrylic tube with a string of small lights.[4] This mechanism is protected by a patent.[6]
An episode of Omni: The New Frontier has a segment that talks about the creation of the game's audio.[7]
Reception
In a retro review, Pinball Mag called the artwork legendary.[8]
Digital versions
Xenon was one of twelve titles included in the 2006 digital arcade game cabinet UltraPin.[9]
The table was released for The Pinball Arcade in May 2015,[10] and was available for purchase on several platforms until the developer's license to include Williams and Bally tables expired in July 2018.[11]